Wisconsin Innocence Project receives major federal grant

The Wisconsin Innocence Project is a legal clinic that advocates on behalf of wrongfully convicted clients. The federal funding allows the program to continue its work on cases where new DNA supports the convicted individual's claim of actual innocence.

In particular, the funds support the work of one clinical faculty attorney, a full-time intake worker and a part-time intake assistant. The funds also cover the costs of DNA testing of biological evidence, expert fees and office expenses.

Sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, the grant is part of the Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Assistance Program. It was named for Kirk Noble Bloodsworth, the first prisoner in the U.S. to be exonerated through post-conviction DNA testing.